The latest election count for Fresno County shows that only about 46% of voters cast ballots in the Feb. 5 presidential primary. Compare that with the statewide turnout of about 57%, and you have to wonder why Fresno County voters were so apathetic.
Voters across the nation were getting involved in a big way in this primary season, yet more than half of Fresno County voters had something better to do on election day. They couldn't even be moved by this historic primary election.
You can't think of many excuses for them. This election occurred before Republican Mitt Romney got out of the GOP race for president, so Fresno County Republicans had a choice between Romney, Sen. John McCain and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Romney won Fresno County, one of the few counties that he carried in California on Feb. 5.
Democrats had Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama to choose from. Former Sen. John Edwards had already dropped out. Clinton won Fresno County and carried California.
Here are the latest turnout numbers from the Fresno County Elections Office:
-- All voters: 161,968 voted out of 352,661 registered -- 45.93% turnout.
-- Democrats: 77,263 voted out of 139,805 registered -- 55.3% turnout.
-- Republicans: 74,874 voted out of 154,326 registered -- 48.5% turnout.
If I had to guess I would say its is probably lack of understanding about the primaries and election overkill. 3 elections is way to many. If more of them voted by absentee they might be more inclined to do it. I think some people don't want to be bothered going to the polls even though they have 12 hours to do it sometimes work and family responsibilities get in the way especially for those with very young children.
It looks like the local Republicans weren't too excited about their choices. And, given their options, I don't blame them - I'm glad I switched parties this year.
We should all get the same ballot with everyone on it so if we don't feel the candidates in our party are worthy of our vote we can vote as we want. Sometimes people do want to change our minds and it should be our choice.